Tool stand



Jan. 14, 1958 A. M. ZERVER 2,319,938

TOOL STAND Filed Aug. 50, 1954 INVENTOR. Jfied Zerrer BY 42% TOOL STAND Alfred M. Zerver, Remscheid, Germany Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,819

Claims priority, application Germany December 16, 1953 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-201) The present invention relates to a box for tools, materials and the like, especially for use in repair and assembly shops. Preferably, such a box should be mobile in a manner known per se so as to make it possible quickly to move the box wherever it is desired in the shop.

Various types of mobile tool boxes are known which, however, most frequently have the drawback that they are complicated in structure and rather expensive. Moreover such mobile containers usually take up too much space which is a great handicap in a machine shop.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a box for tools, materials or the like, which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a box or container of the above mentioned type which will make it possible to adjust the shelves or the like to convenient heights for the respective purposes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a box "according to the present invention provided with an intermediate container and having the lid lifted off of the container proper.

Fig. 2 shows the box of Fig. 1 in closed condition.

Fig. 3 illustrates the lid for the tool box.

General arrangement In order to provide a simple and inexpensive tool box, the present invention suggests to provide a preferably mobile container with one or a plurality of columns having the lid or the like arranged in such a manner that it can be lifted up to table height. In addition to the lid which is designed as a tray or table plate, also one or more intermediate trays and/or boxes may be adjustably arranged on said columns. This will make it possible easily to view the tools in the box and allows a convenient deposit of the used tools, or of the replacement parts or dismantled elements in table height. Above all, such an arrangement makes it possible to place the individual trays or boxes directly upon each other so that the lid and the lowermost box can be interlocked in a convenient manner by means of locking elements. Thus, the lid may be provided with a lock comprising rods or latches which when in closing position engage for instance openings in the columns. In this way special locking members are saved.

In order to simplify the mobile tool box, preferably an embodiment is selected in which the lid of the mobile tool box which is guided on said columns has connected thereto by means of chains or the like one or a plurality of intermediate trays and/ or intermediate boxes. In order to place the box in condition for use, it is in such an instance merely necessary to lift the lid or top plate whereby simultaneously the intermediate trays and/or intermediate boxes are pulled out. When the lid has reached its uppermost position, it is arrested by spring- Hoe urged latches or the like so that simultaneously all intermediate trays are arrested at the desired height. The chains are so connected that the distances between the lid and the intermediate trays and also the distances between the intermediate trays may easily manually be adjusted. The bottom side of the lid is provided with spring-urged locking pins for arresting the respective trays, while said locking pins are provided with handles or the like.

As a further development of the invention, one or both columns may be provided at the upper end thereof with a recess for receiving an adjustable workplace illuminating lamp.

In order to guard against damaging of vehicles or the like in the workshop, the boxes and/or the lid as well as the intermediate box may be provided with beads of elastic material such as rubber or the like, whereby simultaneously also the tool box is protected against damage or the like.

The lowermost box which forms a part of the framework may in a manner known per se be provided with casters or the like to yield an easy movability of the arrangement. It is, of course, understood that the mobile tool box may .also be provided in a manner known per se with an arresting mechanism so as safely to stop and maintain the tool box also on an incline. To this end, one end of the box may be provided with rollers whereas the other end is provided with simple supports, in which instance the last mentioned end must be slightly lifted when the box is to be moved.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawings in detail and, Figs. 1 to 3 thereof in particular, the arrangement shown therein comprises the lowermost tool box 1 having connected thereto a fixed axle carrying two rollers 2. Furthermore, there are provided two further rollers 3 which are suspended in supports 4 in the fashion of casters. If desired, also the rollers 2 may be provided as casters. more, when wider boxes are used, the rollers and/or casters may be arranged underneath said boxes. The two smaller sides of the box 1 have connected thereto two columns 5 and 6. These columns serve as guiding means for instance for an intermediate box 7 and for a tray 8 which latter also serves as cover or lid for the arrangement. Instead of the two mentioned elements 7 and 8 or in addition thereto, further intermediate plates or boxes may be provided. It is, however, important that the lid 3 may be lifted up to normal table height and may be arrested in this position.

The lid 8 is connected with the intermediate box 7 by means of two chains 20 and 21. When the box 1 is in closed position (Fig. 2), the lid 8 may be lifted first.

' Only after the chains 20 and 21 have been tensioned,

the intermediate box 7 will be carried along when lifting the lid 8 further. This has the advantage that the heavy intermediate box 7 filled with tools, need not be lifted in bent over position of the mechanic. If a plurality of intermediate boxes are provided, these boxes are correspondingly interconnected by chains.

The bottom side of the lid 8 is provided with springurged locking pins 22 adapted to engage bores or recesses in the columns 5 and 6 to thereby arrest the lid 8. These locking pins 22 are provided with small handles or knobs 23 by means of which the pins 22 can be withdrawn from the apertures in the column Whenever it is desired to close the box.

The bottom side of the lid 8 is furthermore provided with a lock 24 and key 25. When actuating the lock by means of said key, the locking rods 26 and 27 are pushed into corresponding openings in the columns 5 Further 3 and 6 provided the lid 8 has reached its lowermost position.

As will be seen from Fig. 3, the intermediate box 7 is provided with a plurality of partitions 28 which are preferably adjustable so as to vary the individual compartments formed thereby. The ends of the columns and 6 are provided with openings to allow the installment of a lamp 29 for illuminating the working place. The wire or cord for this lamp is passed through the adjacent column and leaves the column within the tool box 1 (not shown in the drawing). When not in use, the cord may be placed into the tool box 1 so that in this way also the cord is locked up.

It is advantageous to provide such mobile tool box also with a small stool 30 or the like. Such stool may for instance be provided with three legs one of which, in this instance leg 31, is pushed into a corresponding tube 32 in the tool box 1 from the head side of said stool. This tube may be carried by an intermediate wall of the tool box 1. Preferably, the tube is provided with a springurged clamping device (not shown in the drawing) in order to retain the pushed-in leg of the stool. The other two legs 33 and 34 of the stool will slide underneath the tool box 1 when the leg 31 is pushed into the tube 32.

Preferably, the box 1 as well as the intermediate box 7 and lid 8 may be provided with a rubber head 35 extending all the way around to thereby prevent any damaging of the tool box as well as of machines, vehicles or the like in the machine or repair shop.

It is, of course, understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claim. Thus, it is not necessary for instance to employ two columns. Instead also one column only may be employed around which the boxes and the table plate will be arranged. 0n the other hand, also three or four columns may be used. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the columns are arranged perpendicular to the plane of the lowermost container. Instead the columns may also be inclined with regard to the plane of the lowermost container so that the other trays or containers may be pulled out in the manner of steps or a ladder. Finally, the arrangement or carriage according to the invention may in a manner known per se be provided with a seat which is guided by one of the columns and may for instance be tilted or turned over the lowermost box when the tool box is moved to its resting place. Depending on the purpose and place of use of the tool box, the wheels or casters may be omitted.

What I claim is:

A portable tool stand comprising a tool box having a lid consisting of at least two superimposed tray-like members, at least two columns respectively connected to two opposite sides of said tool box, said lid being slidably guided on said columns substantially the entire length thereof whereby said lid means may selectively be placed upon said box or may be separated therefrom, means interconnecting the tray-like members of said lid with lost motion whereby the uppermost tray-like member of the lid may be moved away from the adjacent tray-like member of the lid by a desired distance before the last mentioned tray-like member of the lid is caused to follow said uppermost tray-like member of the lid, latching means carried by at least said uppermost tray-like member of the lid for arresting the same on said columns, said columns extending at least to normal table level, and locking means carried by said lid and engagea'ble with said box for firmly interlocking said lid and said box and simultaneously closing the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 643,570 Underwood Feb. 3, 1900 681,098 Brown Aug. 20, 1901 1,073,294 Siewert Sept. 16, 1913 1,660,521 Nordgren Feb. 28, 1928 1,778,075 Harris Oct. 14, 1930 1,816,705 Traylor July 28, 1931 1,923,969 Chase Aug. 22, 1933 1,992,435 Labadie Feb. 26, 1935 2,196,933 Mooar Apr. 9, 1940 2,230,374 Carver Feb. 4, 1941 2,448,377 Lindner Aug. 31, 1948 

